His Holiness the Dalai Lama Opens Tibetan Pavilion in Pune (Updated)

His Holiness the Dalai Lama addressing at the inauguration ceremony of Tibet Pavilion at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Museum on Indian History in Vadgoan Shinde, in Pune, India, on 28 July 2013/Photo credit/Art of Living Foundation

His Holiness the Dalai Lama appeals to Indians to uphold its age-old traditions of non-violence and religious harmony

Pune, 28 July 2013: His Holiness the Dalai Lama today inaugurated Tibetan Pavilion at the FACT – Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Museum on Indian History in Vadgoan Shinde, Pune. The Tibetan Pavilion is an exhibition of texts and photographs depicting Tibet’s history, current situation and the travails of the Tibetan people inside and in-exile for the last fifty years following the complete occupation of Tibet by the People Republic of China in 1959. The exhibition on Tibet is an replication of the Tibet Museum permanent exhibition at Mcleod Ganj, Dharamsala.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama also released the book ‘Glimpses of the History of Tibet’ which was authored by Claude Arpi and published by the Tibet Museum of DIIR, CTA.

The pictorial book was adapted from Arpi’s exhibition on Tibet’s history. It illustrates the rich cultural, political and religious history of Tibet from its mythical origins on the world’s highest plateau to its modern day struggles following the occupation of Tibet by the People’s Republic of China. Beginning with the land of snow’s mythic creation and weaving a history that has seen the reign of great kings, the storied introduction of Buddhism and independent nationhood, this book also reveals the complex political realities of historical Tibet from priest-patron relations with mongol rulers, invasion by foreign empires and finally the painful degradation of peaceful Tibet nation into its present status.

Through this book, the Tibet Museum aims to reconnect young Tibetans with their ancestral land and also to inform and educate non-Tibetans on the history, culture and resilience of Tibet.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama spoke of the need to reduce differences among people, leave behind secondary level differences based on faith, race, nationality and social background. “Due to too much emphasis on secondary level differences, too many unnecessary problems are created by ourself. If we did not understand oneness of seven billion human being, much of human created problems cannot be reduced. All the 7 billion human being on this planet are same. In a world where nations and continents are heavily interdependent there is no choice but to live in togetherness,” he said.

His Holiness said all the traditions of the world teach the values of love and compassion.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama releasing the book titled “Glimpses of the History of Tibet”. Also seen in the picture are author Claude Arpi and the director of the Tibet Museum, Tashi Phuntsok Barling.

“While the past is for us to learn from, it is the future that we should look to build,” he said. “Conflicts, when they arise can only be resolved by dialogue,” he added.

He appealed to the people India to hold on to its age old tradition of Ahimsa, which he described as an ‘action of compassion’ as against violence which is ‘action of anger.’ “The values that India has taught the world is now for India to practice,” he added.

Also present on the occasion was Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thakeray and Youth President Aditya Thakeray . The function also included Tibetan chanting by monks from Drepung Loselling Monastery, Mundgod.

The Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj Museum on Indian history, is an initiative of NGO ‘Foundation Against Continuing Terrorism (FACT) –India’, founded by Namrita and Francois Gautier in 2003. Francois Gautier, a French author, journalist and also a senior member of the Art of Living foundation, explained the reasons for a project of this nature, which is among the few private museums in the country.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama at a photo exhibition on Tibet during the inauguration of Tibetan Pavilion at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Museum on Indian History in Vadgoan Shinde, in Pune, India, on 28 July 2013